Athletic tape wraps on baseball bats have long been a practice among players. Their designs can vary according to individual preference, and come in all sorts of designs.
Pro Tips provides three techniques on how to gift wrap a baseball bat – perfect for surprising the baseball or softball player in your life!
Measure the Bat
Your child’s baseball bat size selection is critical. A too long bat can limit power production while too short limits bat speed production – both can lead to potential liabilities for their team and easy outs for opponents. Arm length tests may provide guidance, but ultimately testing out different bat sizes is the only sure way of knowing for certain what would work.
To do this, position the knob of the bat at the center of your child’s chest while they extend their arm out and grab its barrel with their palm – this should indicate whether or not it is of sufficient size for their age player. Note that some leagues (e.g. USSSA) may have specific regulations pertaining to weight drops and barrel sizes permitted at certain age levels.
Weight of the BatIt’s important to keep in mind that bat weight is equally as crucial to its length; otherwise your child could struggle to hit the ball effectively with it and become frustrated and even discouraged. This issue can be easily solved; simply have them practice swinging several bats of different weights until one feels most comfortable for them in their hands; alternatively you could also add additional grips for better comfort and control when purchasing new ones.
Find the Right Shipping Box
Choose the appropriate shipping box when gift-wrapping a baseball bat as choosing one is one of the key steps in its wrapping. A sturdy box should ensure no damage occurs during transit; there are various types of boxes specifically designed to do just that and sizes may vary according to bat length.
Before purchasing a box for shipping bats, it is vitally important to measure their dimensions. This will enable you to decide what size box and packing material are needed; ideally find one which matches the length of the bat itself and reduce chances of shifting during shipment.
Once you have found an appropriate box, it’s time to begin the wrapping process. Start by carefully peeling back any existing wrap from the bat before beginning rewrapping; starting from a clean surface is recommended and using high-quality tape; some players even go as far as taking measures such as taking off the manufacturer grip from their bat and applying their own grip tape instead – often seen as “cheating”.
Once the bat is packaged and wrapped, the final step for shipping should be sealing and labeling its box with all relevant information, such as box number, shipping address and contact info. Furthermore, writing “fragile” on its box or adding a fragile sticker may provide added protection during transit.
Wrap the Bat
Before beginning to wrap a bat, it’s essential to make sure it is clean. This ensures the pine tar will adhere correctly. Also remove any old tape that might be covering up parts of it before wrapping, and ensure the bat is completely dry before starting!
To start wrapping a bat, start by placing it on a flat surface and using a utility knife to cut off any old tape still attached to its handle. Once this step has been completed, wrap the bat using athletic tape from a store.
This type of tape is specially designed to be long-term durable and easy to work with. Furthermore, its array of colors and designs offers you more ways to personalize the wrap for your event.
Once your bat is fully wrapped with new tape, use electrical tape to close off its handle – this will prevent it from accidentally opening in future. Finally, add some athletic adhesive over the tape so it does not shift over time.
Now that you understand how to gift wrap a baseball bat, you can make any player on your list feel extra-special this holiday season. By following these professional tips and creating an outstanding gift!
Place the Bat in the Box
Baseball bats are long pieces of wood or aluminum used for hitting home runs. Players often add a bat grip for added comfort and power when swinging their bat; often by wrapping tape around its entire handle. This practice has become widespread among both amateur baseball players as well as professional athletes.
Retaping a bat requires players to first find an appropriate wrapping material, which could include Lizard Skin or Vulcan bat tape as well as electrical or tennis tape. They should look for something strong enough to absorb moisture before wrapping the tape around their bat handle in either direction depending on whether they’re right- or left-handed.
Once they’ve wrapped the bat, players can use their fingers to create a tight and secure grip. As needed, additional tape may also be added over time for additional reinforcement of this grip. It is crucial that this is comfortable for them, since an uncomfortable or loose grip may negatively impact performance when swinging their bat.
Players typically begin by wrapping the tape counter-clockwise before moving onto another section of the bat to continue wrapping until complete. Once their grip is complete, they can add the end caps and complete their bat!
An innovative way to gift wrap a baseball bat is placing it in a pouch themed after either baseball or softball, such as one made by Reames Sports Products. This provides a quick and economical option when giving items without boxes such as new gloves, balls or laces as they can simply be tied with ribbon bows! For added fun and authenticity it can even be lined with brown crinkle paper to mimic infield dirt for added realism!
Seal and Label the Box
Make the present more festive by using red wrapping paper and wired ribbon to wrap a bat like a candy cane and create an eye-catching decoration. It will look amazing, too.
Before wrapping a bat, it is crucial that it is thoroughly cleaned. If it already has existing grip tape attached, first remove it to avoid any slipperiness or degradation in its performance. Lightly sand the handle to eliminate pine tar or sticky residue from its surface for optimal adhesion of new tape and ensure its longevities.
Next, take some athletic tape and cover the taper of your bat with it. This will protect it from any cuts that might occur during shipping while adding some additional grip – many players opt to do this when purchasing new bats, while you could do the same if an old one has become worn down.
Some players also opt to add a second layer of tape – this step is optional but may help improve comfort and grip, helping players hit balls further away.
Always include a label on your package to make it easier for postal services to identify and track it. There are plenty of printable labels online which you can print out and apply directly onto the box – remembering to write both your information as well as that of the recipient on it!
If you are giving a baseball bat as a present for someone living far away, consider packaging it in a large gift bag to facilitate shipping and protect the gift. Or you could get creative and use something like a brown paper sack instead for an added decorative element.